Whooping cough case confirmed at Wausau East

WAUSAU - Parents of students at Wausau East High School got letters Thursday about a confirmed case of whooping cough at the school.

The letter advised parents to watch for symptoms of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, if the were at school between Nov. 30 and Dec. 9.

The disease begins with cold-like symptoms in infants and young children, including a runny nose, low fever and a mild cough, the letters said. The disease progresses after one or two weeks to include spells of explosive coughing that can interrupt breathing, eating and sleeping. The coughing may last for several weeks, or even months, the letter said.

Symptoms may be milder for anyone who has been vaccinated for the disease, the letter said.

If parents notice symptoms of the disease in their child, the health department advises them to:

Have them evaluated as soon as possible by a doctor because patients are most infectious during the early stages of the disease.

Get them tested for the disease and get antibiotic treatment the same day.

Isolate them at home until five days of treatment with antibiotics.

Have the doctor report the positive test result to the health department.

Calls made to the Marathon County Health Department for additional information were not immediately returned.

Chris Mueller can be reached at 715-345-2251 and christopher.mueller@gannettwisconsin.com. Follow him on Twitter as @AtChrisMueller.